Consumer Trends: Alcohol Professor Unveils Top Irish Whiskies for St. Paddy's Day

NEW YORK (PRWEB) — The Alcohol Professor recommends these six Irish Whiskies to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with friends and family.

Green Spot: Beloved in Ireland and the U.K. for years, this is one of the most exciting new Irish Whiskey imports to the US market. It’s a blend of Pot Still whiskeys aged between 7 and 10 years, having rested in a combination of new bourbon, refill bourbon and sherry casks. Soft, sweet fruit (pears, ripe peach, golden apple) on the nose. Dark chocolate, caramel and walnut on the palate, finishing clean and fresh. Almost no detection of that pencil lead quality many Irish whiskeys tend to possess. Light bodied, subtle and dewy, think of it as a romantic Irish poem – one of those “magic” things, according to poet W.B. Yeats, that is “patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”

The Irishman Single Malt: Even the very name “The Irishman” suggests this is a friendly, welcoming whiskey, one you like to go drinking with. Aged 10 years, this one also rests in a combo of bourbon and sherry casks. It starts out light and fruity then becomes more complex on the palate, with interesting deep herbal notes at the finish, almost akin to one of the more sweet styles of Amaro. Silver medal winner at the 2013 NY International Spirits Competition. Would be fun to sip while binge watching Father Ted episodes.

Bushmills 16 Yrs Single Malt: Despite being comprised of a blend of two single malt whiskeys, one aged in ex-bourbon barrels and one in ex-Port, it has a rather uncomplicated tasting finish. Robust and a little earthy, but with a subtle sweet note that makes it very easy to drink. If it were a book, it would be a Flann O’Brien short story collection – with a little something for everyone.

Redbreast Single Pot Still 21 Yrs: The oldest of the Redbreast sherry cask single pot stills is dark, brooding and toasty. Burnt sugar with dried fruits, toffee, vanilla and leather, swirling into a sweet finish. It is at once loud, tempestuous, engaging and playful. Wisened and a little rough around the edges, it’s the Richard Harris of the bunch.

Knappogue Castle 14 Yrs Single Malt: This one spends most of its time in ex-bourbon casks with a finish in Oloroso sherry casks. It’s just enough of a sherry hit to give it depth of flavor, but the whiskey still retains the classic Knappogue Castle lightness, which is evident by the golden hue still present on the whiskey. Graceful, light and intriguing, it’s the Maureen O’Hara of Irish Whiskey.

Bushmills Black Bush: It’s such an easygoing whiskey that one can’t not include it in a Paddy’s Day roundup! It’s a blend that has spent some time in Oloroso sherry casks, giving it hints of both sweet and savory spices (clove, cinnamon, thyme and bay leaf) and red apples. It has a medium weight with a pleasant biscuity (the American sense of the word, not a cookie) quality. It’s the perfect tea time dram, and would be delicious with Irish soda bread, tea cake or shortbread.